Mo Mhuirin springs 50-1 surprise at Dundalk

It was also a night to remember for Zoe McMullan, from Ballymoney, County Antrim, who rode her first winner on board Kartayaz, another 50-1 shot

SHOCK SUCCESS: Mo Mhuirin en route to victory in the hands of  Ben Coen. Picture: Healy Racing

Mo Mhuirin, in the colours of her breeder and well-known tenor Dr Ronan Tynan, made a successful debut when pipping odds-on favourite Guardian Of Realm in the DundalkStadium.com 2-Y-0 Fillies Maiden in Dundalk.

Andy Slattery’s 50-1 charge, under a forceful ride by Ben Coen, got up late to foil the Juddmonte filly, who had hung right under pressure to the stands rail inside the final furlong. Only a nose separated them at the line.

“I’m not surprised,” declared Slattery. “She’s been working well and I thought she had a right chance — I told a few people they could do worse than back her-each-way.

“She was in pre-training and only came to us two months ago. She’s a nice filly and needs time — Ben said was still very green.” 

Runner-up in her last two starts, Heaven’s Wish, in the colours of her trainer Diego Dias and ridden for the first time by Colin Keane, justified 5-6 favouritism in the opening five-furlong maiden, seeing off Woolridge by more than a length.

“She jumped and travelled well and the win is well deserved,” stated Dias. “She was sold in the last few days and I think the plan is to go to the breeding shed.” 

On a night of mixed fortunes, Colin Keane completed a double when he got Noel Meade’s Kc Bear up on the line to beat This Guy by a nose in the irishinjuredjockeys.com Nursery.

“Colin said he was flat out the whole way and would be better over seven – he’d settle better over the longer trip,” explained the winning trainer.

“We thought he was the real deal in the spring and fancied him when he went to the Curragh, but he finished last. We gelded him and he ran well the last day and came forward. I thought he was beaten, but Colin got the job done.” 

The Keane-ridden Watch Tower came off second best in the fascinating Irish Stallion farms EBF 2-Y-0 Maiden, ultimately beaten two lengths by 11-4 favourite Golden Trigger, ridden for Natalia Lupini by Wayne Lordan.

The Ghaiyyath colt was scoring at his third attempt. And the trainer’s partner Craig Bryson, said: “He had run very well twice and the drop back to seven furlongs helped him. He’s not shy of pace and the plan was to jump and go forward. He’s due a wee break and will be offered for sale. Either way, he’ll be a nice three-year-old.” 

It was a night to remember for Zoe McMullan, from Ballymoney, County Antrim, who rode her first winner on board 50-1 shot Kartayaz, trained locally by George Kingston, in the first division of the Happy Christmas From All At Dundalk Stadium Handicap.

Kartayaz stayed on dourly to foil Boyne Valley by a half-length, prompting his rider to comment: “It was all him — he was brilliant and just kept finding and finding. I’m very light, only 6-10 and broke my leg this time last year. So it’s great to be back and to ride a winner for George.” 

Spy, a 15-race maiden on the Flat, finally got his head in front when, galvanised by Billy Lee, he prevailed by a short-head over Aingeal Dorcha in the second division of the 0-60 eleven-furlong handicap.

His trainer Charles Byrnes was expected to complete a double with Drafted in the finale. But the 11-8 favourite could only manage fourth spot behind the Tony Mullins-trained Lahore Da King, a first winner in Ireland for 7lb claimer Iqbal Khan (he has ridden 17 winners in his native Pakistan).

Denis Hogan saddled four in the mile-and-a-half claimer, including 5-4 favourite Porsche Lad (finished third) and landed the spoils with the Joey Sheridan-ridden Benavente.